Trim chain assembly for drum cutter miner



A ril 1, 1969 N. w. DENSMORE TRIM CHAIN ASSEMBLY FOR DRUM CUTTER MINER Sheet 1 of 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1966 INVENTOR. N EAL W. DENSMORE A ril 1, 1969 N. w. DENSMORE 3,436,122

TRIM CHAIN ASSEMBLY FOR DRUM CUTTER MINER Filed Dec. 19, 1966 Sheet 2 of 2 78 INVENTOR NEAL W. DENSMORE Unite States atent O 3,436,122 TRIM CHAIN ASSEMBLY FOR DRUM CUTTER MINER Neal W. Densmore, 452 Wendy Way, Franklin, Pa. 16323 Filed Dec. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 602,843 Int. Cl. E210 27/26, 25/10, 13/00 US. Cl. 29973 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The improved trim cutter chain assembly of the present invention is used with a mining machine of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,210,123. Essentially, the present invention comprises a cutter chain supporting outwardly extending cutter bits, which chain is supported on a pivotable arm of the mining machine for being driven in an endless path lying in a plane spaced from and extending longitudinally of the pivotable arm. The rearward end of the chain path is defined by a rigid member which serves to prevent the chain from being sepa rated from its driving member. In the preferred embodiment to be described the trim cutter chain is driven by a coacting sprocket which is motivated by the same source driving the drum cutter. The drum cutter is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis. The chain moves in a generally elliptically shaped endless path spaced from one of the pivotable arms of the mining machines. This chain path is defined by the drive sprocket and a U-shaped channel member disposed rearwardly of the sprocket. The channel member suitably slidably receives a portion of the chain and is suitably supported by the pivotable arm for pivoting with the drum cutter about its horizontal pivot axis.

Various advantages will be apparent upon considering the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the forward part of a mining machine of the type having rotatable drum cutters mounted on laterally spaced arms pivotable about vertical axes embodying a trim cutter chain assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the mining machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing further details of construction of elements of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the chain member comprising a part of the present invention and illustrated to show details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a support member forming part of the present invention and illustrated to show details of construction.

In the drawings generally represents a mining machine of the type described in the previously mentioned patent. Mining machine 10 has a well known main frame 12, a part of which is shown, and laterally oppositely arranged driven ground engaging means 14 (one of which is shown) such as the crawler track illustrated. A downwardly inclined gathering head 15 comprises the forward end of the main frame 12. An endless driven single chain flight conveyor 16 is arranged longitudinally of the main frame 12 to convey mined material from the gathering head 15 3,436,122 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 rearwardly of the main frame 12. A pair of forwardly extending laterally spaced identical support arms 18 are suitably arranged on the forward portion of main frame 12 for pivotal movement about vertically extending pivot pins 20. The intermediate portion of each arm 18 is suitably pivotably connected to a telescoping piston rods 22 of hydraulic cylinders 24 of a type well known in the art. Cylinders 24 are suitably pivotably supported on yokes 26 which yokes are rigidly fixed to the main frame 12. The cylinders 24 are preferably operated simultaneously to swing the arms 18 in a common horizontal plant. HoW- ever, one arm 18 may be swung independently of the other arm shown in FIG. 1.

Rotary drum cutting heads 28 are suitably mounted at the forward ends of support arms 18 for rotation. Each drum cutting head 28 includes a ribbed hub member 30 coaxially, rigidly arranged on a drive shaft 32 which drive shaft is suitably arranged to be driven by motor 34 through a transmission means 36. A tubular, generally cylindrical body member 38 is suitably fixed to the outer portion of the ribs of the hub member 30 coaxially with drive shaft 32. Body member 38 has longitudinally arranged openings 40 therein through which mined material can pass. Cutter elements 42 are suitably rigidly fixed to and are uniformally spaced about the circumference of the inner end 43 of each of the body members 38. Additional cutter elements 44 are suitably fixed to and extend radially outwardly from an intermediate portion of the outer periphery of each body member 38 in a uniformally circumferentially spaced manner.

There are other features of the arrangements of the support arms 18 and drum cutting heads 28 which will not be described but are well known and clearly described in the previously mentioned patent. For example, means are included with the present mining machine 10 for moving cutting heads 28 in a vertical plane as illustrated in phantom outline in FIG. 2.

The arrangement of the support arms 18, and all the elements associated therewith is identical. The trim cutter chain assembly of the present invention is, likewise, identical with respect to each support arm 18 and, therefore, only one trim cutter chain assembly arrangement relative to one support arm 18 will be described hereinafter with the understanding that such trim cutter chain assembly arrangement is identical on both sides of the mining machine 10.

A toothed sprocket 46 is suitably fixed to drive shaft 32 intermediate the hub member 30 and transmission means 36. The trim cutter chain assembly of the present invention includes a closed loop trim cutter chain 48 suitably operatively mounted on the sprocket 46. The trim cutter chain 48 extends longitudinally rearwardly of the support arm 18. A support assembly, generally designated 50, is arranged longitudinally of and in spaced relationship to the support arm 18 and extends towards the rearward end (i.e. towards pivot pin 20) of the support arm 18. The support assembly 50 serves to support that portion of the trim cutter chain 48 extending rearwardly of sprocket 46.

The support assembly 50 is spaced from support arm 18 by a longitudinally rearwardly extending flat bracket 54 suitably arranged to pivot with cutting head 28 about a horizontal axis. A flat block member 55 has one end thereof suitably fixed to an intermediate central portion of bracket 54. Block member 55 has a threaded opening 56 extending therethrough, which opening is located near the free end of block member 55. The centerline of open ing 56 lies in the same plane as the longitudinal centerline of bracket 54. A longitudinally extending adjusting screw 58 is suitably carried by block member 55 in threaded opening 56. The adjusting screw 58 has a head 59 at the forward end thereof which head 59 is suitably adapted to be grasped for adjusting screw 58 with respect to the bracket 54. Locking means in the form of a lock nut 60 is disposed on the adjusting screw 58 rearwardly of block member 55.

A pair of longitudinally extending identical guide members 62 are secured to bracket 54 by bolts 63. The guide members 62 are tranvsersely spaced from one another equidistant from the center line of opening 56 in block 55. Each guide member 62 has a fiat lower leg 64 with its bottom surface flush with a portion of bracket 54, and upper leg 65 spaced from bracket 54 .and generally parallel to lower leg 64, and a middle portion 66 connecting lower and upper legs 64, 65 and normal to both. Passageways 67 are defined between the upper legs 65 of each guide member 62 and the opposite facing portions of bracket 54.

The support member 50 includes a U-shaped channeled guide means or channel member 70 disposed rearwardly of sprocket 46 with the bend or closed portion thereof directed rearwardly of support arm 18. The channel member 70, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, has a main body portion 71 having a generally rectangular cross-section with a closed end 72 and an opposite open end 73. The closed end 72 faces support arm 18 and is flush with bracket 54. Open end 73 is defined by two inwardly extending oppositely disposed lip portions 74 integral with the side walls of main body 71 defining a channel throat portion. The remainder of channel member comprises a fiat plate portion '76 extending coplanarly with and inwardly from the closed end 72 of main body portions 71. Plate portion 76 has a forwardly facing generally U-shaped cutout 77 defining two identical generally parallel longitudinally extending legs 78. The transverse dimension of each leg 78 and the thickness of plate portion 76 are such that the legs 78 are received in passageways 67 defined between guide members 62 and bracket 54. Thus, guide members 62 serves to guide the longitudinal movement of channel member 70. By suitably tightening bolts 63 the guide member 70 will fix the position of channel member 70 with respect to bracket 54. Four longitudinally extending transversely spaced flat struts 80 have one end thereof suitably fixed to channel member 70 at the inner end of the U. The inner portion of each of the struts 80 is suitably fixed to plate portion 76 of channel member 70. A transversely extending flat plate member 82 is suitably fixed between the channel member 70 and the forward ends of struts 80. A block 84 is suitably fixed to a central portion of the forward face of fiat plate 82 and to the plate portion 76 of channel member 80. A portion of the forward face of block 84 abuts the rear end of adjusting screw 58.

. The trim cutter chain 48 includes a plurality of uniformly spaced bi-t blocks 86 suitably connected to one another by links 87. Each bit block 86 has a rigid body 8 8 having a longitudinal center line as shown clearly in FIG. 3. The body 88 of each bit block 86 has a lower portion having outwardly directed tab portions 90, and an upper portion 91 having a longitudinal centerline extending either at an oblique angle to or coincident with the longitudinal center line of body 88 (see FIG. 4). The free end of upper portion 91 is provided with an aperture (not shown) suitably shaped for receiving a cutter bit 93. Since the angles which the upper portions 91 of the respective bit blocks '86 make with the longitudinal center line of the respective body 88 of each bit block 86 varies, the respective cutter bits 93 in the bit blocks 86 lie in varying planes. The tab portions 90 and lower portion of each body 88 of the bit blocks 86 are slidably received in the hollow portion of channel member 70. The bit blocks 86 are prevented from emerging from the channel member 70 by the interference between the respective tab portions 90 of bit blocks 86 and the lip portions 74- of channel member 70. As shown in FIG. 4, each bit block 86 also includes oppositely arranged pairs of identical cars 95. The cars 95 of each pair of ears are parallel to each other and extend transversely outwardly from body 88 of bit blocks 86. Each car has adjacent its free end an opening 96 therethrough. The openings 96 of each car 95 in a pair of cars are coaxial. Each link 87 has identical openings, 98 through the end portions thereof, with a link 87 being received in the space between the cars 95 of each pair of ears. One opening 98 of link 97 is aligned with the openings 96 of cars 95. A pin 99 is suitably arranged in the respective openings of each car 95 and link 97 to laterally fix link 97 between ears 95 while permittin-g rotation of link 97 about pin 99. All of the bit blocks 86 are interconnected in the manner just described to thus form an endless trim cutter chain 48. The teeth of sprocket 46 fit in between successive bit blocks 86 in a suitable manner to transmit driving force to the trim cutter chain 48.

The sprocket 46 and the channel member 70 serve to define the cutter chain path of the trim cutter chain 48. The path of the cutter chain, as described hereinbefore will be an essentially elliptical path lying in a plane generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of bracket 54. However, any other suitable cutter chain path configuration can be used Without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As is apparent, the trim cutter chain 48 can be tightened or loosened by turning the adjusting screw 58 in the longitudinal direction desired. It might also be noted that the trim cutter chain 48 can be tightened by means of shim arrangements in any of the other well known manners.

The trim cutter chain arrangements used heretofore, as exemplified by the arrangements illustrated in the previously mentioned path, showed repeated tendency of coming off of the drive and idler sprockets used. The trim cutter chain arrangement of the present invention has successfully overcome this problem. Repeated use of a trim cutter chain embodying the present invention has shown that the cutter chain .will remain in its path without any apparent tendency to come off of the drive sprocket.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my present invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be realized that modification may be made without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is requested that the scope of this invention be not restricted to the specific forms shown for the uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mining machine having an elongated main frame, at least one elongated arm member having a rearward end pivotably supported at the forward end of said main frame for pivotable movement about at least an axis upstanding with respect to said main frame, a drum cutter supported at the forward end of said arm member for rotation about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said arm member, trim cutter means extending longitudinally of said arm member, the improvement in said trim cutter means comprising: a rigid elongated -U-shaped plate member supported by said arm member and having leg portions extending forwardly along said arm member to a point rearwardly adjacent said forward end from a closed rear end portion having an arouate shape; a drive sprocket member rotatably supported by said arm member for coaxial rotation with said drum cutter in a plane parallel to the plane of said arcuately shaped rear end portion of said plate member; channeled guide means secured to said rear end portion and aligned with said sprocket member, to define the rearward and forward end portions of an endless path, respectively; said guide means having a three sided channel with an opening in a plane parallel to said plane of sprocket rotation; said channel having a throat portion leading from said opening to a wider base portion opposite said opening; and an endless cutter chain member operatively engaging said sprocket and slidably supported in said guide means for movement in said endless path said chain member comprising pivotally connected bit blocks and connecting links, each bit block having tl'fiarein a socket for receiving a shank portion of a cutter bit; said socket extending into said block along an axis substantially normal to the plane of said endless path; and each block having a necked portion slidably received in said throat portion and a broader base portion slidably captively received in said channel base portion.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arcuately shaped rear end portion of said plate member is substantially semi-circular in shape; and said endless path is substantially elliptically shaped.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including means supported by said arm member and cooperating with said plate member for longitudinally adjusting the position of said plate member with respect to said arm member; and locking means cooperating with said ad- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,045 12/ 1944 Baldwin et al. 29984 2,533,572 12/1950 Fulke 29982 2,730,346 1/1956 Joy 29984 X 3,157,438 1/1964 Lundquist 29982 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

